Theories and Methodologies of English Language and Literature

Description: These courses foreground theoretical approaches or methodological developments, including how they affect formal or historical topics. They explore how theories and methods such as Marxism, psychoanalysis, structuralism, phenomenology, reader reception, feminism, critical race theory or ethnography have influenced the production, practice or study of literature, language and culture in English.

Course Goals: While core courses may not achieve every goal, they will participate in the conversations represented in these goals as a central feature.

To be able to identify main concepts, premises/assumptions, and strengths/liabilities of a theoretical or methodological approach

To be able to compare and contrast what is distinct about different theoretical or methodological approaches

To understand the historical and political contexts and stakes of different theoretical or methodological approaches

To engage theory and method as a focus of analysis and research

To examine and develop theoretical or methodological strategies for producing and circulating texts and implementing findings within salient academic and/or public conversations

To explore how social groups or identities emerge through or participate in the production, significance, and reception of theories and methods

Course list for students who entered the major in Autumn 2013 and later:

ENGL 303 (History of Literary Criticism and Theory I)

ENGL 304 (History of Literary Criticism and Theory II)

ENGL 305 (Theories of the Imagination)

ENGL 306 (Introduction to Rhetoric)

ENGL 307 (Cultural Studies)

ENGL 308 (Marxism and Literary Theory)

ENGL 309 (Theories of Reading)

ENGL 367 (Gender Studies in Literature)

ENGL 369 (Research Methods in Language & Literature)

ENGL 370 (English Language Study)

ENGL 378 (Special Topics in Theories/Methods)

ENGL 470 (Theory and Practice of Teaching Literature)

ENGL 471 (Theory and Practice of Teaching Writing)

Note: students who've been accepted to the competitive-admission Creative Writing option in the major may count ENGL 302 toward this category.